who reaps the reaper

It is said that there is a thin line between heaven and hell known as earth. But, there is a gray area between these three sections, a place known as purge. From there we get the sinister creatures known as reapers.

Chapters:

It is said that
there is a thin line between heaven and hell known as earth. But,
there is a gray area between these three sections, a place known
as purge. From there we get the sinister creatures known as
reapers.

"Good morning everyone. Well I think its morning,
its another beautiful day. So wake up and get your grim on. Today
weather is the same as yesterday sunny or at least what we are
calling sunny in this place. Traffic well no traffic there aren't
any cars here so lets skip that and get to the request. This is
number 823 asking you reapers whats your song of the day?"

In purge there
is no sun, no clouds, or wind. The dimly bright orange sky never
changes. Time has no place in purge it forever stays stuck in one
moment. But oddly enough the world looks and feels like the world
of the living, a prop meant to be used to keep ones
sanity.

Number 475 turned of the alarm clock. Looked at
the time and realized there wasn't any numbers displayed. Got up
and went to take a shower, brushed his teeth and was kinda
startled to see his skull wasn't the bleached white it used to
be. He then went to the drawer only to realize there aren't any
clothes. 475 imagined he was wearing khakis a white shirt and a
sky blue sweater vest. It appeared for 15 seconds only to
vaporize and his robe to appear with his number etched where his
heart used to be.

Although reapers don't need to eat 475 felt
compelled to eat a bowl of cereal. Today he imagined corn pops,
not being around when they where invented he presumed that they
were mini puffs of corn. He would have to have a chat with 2,225
to see if he was right. He then open the door to walk outside
just to be in a office type room. The secretary greets him in a
non nonchalant manner.

3,009: hello 475 your late!

475: well who to say its late there is no clock to
display time so there is no such thing as late. One can surmise
that since there is no time here that early and late never exist.
There is only the here and now.

3,009: I'm saying you late and I wish no to be
here. So don't give me that b.s again. Anyway 125 wants to have a
word with you.

475: well my dear, no one wants to be here is how
they say the way the cookie crumbles.

475 walks to the end of the hall to tall heavy
black door with church-like paned glass with a depiction of a
reaper. It opens slightly to let 475 in the room was no different
than an office of the living. A window outside showed a garden of
roses with a Victorian house behind. The desk was black marble
with silver trim,seats where black leather and had the appearance
that they where hand sewn . 475 took a few step as the door
dematerialized behind him. 125 approached him a jovial
matter.

125: 475 it is a pleasure to see you

475: like wise wise I hope

125: you hope? Now what gives you the idea that
this not a cordial visit.

475: that fact that all our other meetings have
been more on the negative side than the positive.

125: well this will be the exception. There is a
grim missing number 509. She was last seen near a portal. But
there have been no testimony that the portal opened. If you here
or see anything please let me know.

475: very well,but don't you think its odd that
the portal didn't open for her?

125: if its wasn't her turn it wont open. You are
one of the few exceptions to the rule.

475: say no more if I see here or anything off I
will let you know.

The door slowly appeared , 475 slipped throw the
crack to appear near his cubicle next to the break room. He walks
in just to here a conversation begin

5,050: hey 4,099 how is your day?

4,099: well lets see.... had a dream last night
about me being dead and woke up to realized I was dead. Went to
go take a shower and forgot to imagine a bathroom. My robe
materialized backwards and I went to go feed my dog and realized
I have no dog. So what kind of day do you think I am
having?

5,050: Geez, chill I was only asking a question.
No need to be all hostile.

4,099 : Well I was only giving you an answer if
you didn't want to here it then you shouldn't have have
asked.

475: it seems like everyone is on edged
today.

4,099: no I am just having a crappy day. What
about you?

475: just had a talk with125 about one of us
missing.

5,050: yeah 509 is not accounted for. I heard she
de-robed and is going rogue. I don't know anyone who knows her so
I cant really ask around. Your number is close to hers have you
ever had a run-in with 509?

475: No she was however staying with 669. I heard
a rumor that they both were lesbians in the mortal world. Maybe
she still with 669?

4,099: How do you know all of this

475: I think I used be a reporter as you would say
in the mortal world. Or something of that nature.

4,099: you could have been a talk show host in you
past life

5,050: you dumb-ass there where no TVs during his
lifetime, it was in its infancy stage when we died. I here they
now have color.

475: alright enough of this stop acting like
children and get back to work.

5,050: yes dad!you take the fun out of being
dead.

475 goes to his cubicle where he categorizes every
person, animal and living entity. The job would be easy if it
wasn't for the tragedy of 9/11. the poor souls came in like
tsunami waves on a beach, year after year the piles get smaller,
the end is in sight. Not it is time for the fun part. The
seminar.

The hardest thing to do is tell the dead person
that they died. It comes in stages, first denial followed by
crying and more denial followed by some acceptance which gives
reapers hope , then more denial. This goes on for what seems like
forever until eventually they ask the question. Where an I going?
Normally there are enough reapers answers these questions
one-on-one but during war times all of this has to be done in
groups, that's when all hell breaks loose. It just so happens
that's where all of these souls are going. 475 opens the door
just to see the chaotic mess in his wake.

In a room not fitting to even host a small
conference thirty people of all ages race and gender have decided
to have a all out brawl. In the mortal world blood would paint
the walls a crimson red, but since they in the world of limbo it
is not the case. No one seems to notice this little fact until
the reaper walked in the room. In unison everyone in the room
turned to a ghostly white. an award silence stirred the room for
a brief moment before a brave soul asked the first of many
questions.

Madeline was a thirty-two Polish- American. Born
and raced in the Georgetown community of Washington DC. At first
glance she seemed to be a bright well rounded woman with multiple
masters in finance, political science and marketing. But the
truth was it was all a lie. A con-woman by day and a pimp at
night Madeline kept herself business as the second madam of DC.
She learned her lessons from her competitor about keeping her
mouth ( as well ass her legs) shut when her little black book
leaked out and for a while she became front page news to a dying
media. Even though it damage her reputation and lost some girls,
Madeline's competitor still ranked at number one, a spot she
wanted for herself.

Late night on Saturday night are busy for the
madam. With her girls on the streets and her muscle collecting
unpaid debts Madeline is all alone at home but not for long. In
the shadows lies a gunman, to asked who hired him would be left
to the police who still don't have a clue. As she walks into the
shower the assailant picks the lock and heads to the computer
room, he sits and waits. After heading out of the shower with her
curvy body glistening like a golden statue, she calls one of her
friends with benefits over to help her scratch an itch. After
finally persuading one of many in her black book she heads to her
computer room to check her accounts. By this time her live in
muscle should have made his quota and arrive soon, he will come
too late. When she sits at her desk and turns on her computer the
glow dimly light the room, enough for her to see in her compact
mirror the stranger behind her. Before Madeline can react a loud
bang echoed in the room, then silence. As of right now the
assassin is unknown and still at large.

Madeline raised her hand as is she was in
preschool. 475 surprised at how quiet and motionless the room was
wanted to desperately break the silence.

475: you there in the red lingerie. What is your
question?

Madeline: Did you know that its January and
Halloween isn't until October?

Stranger 1: I thought I was October seeing that we
all look like we wearing cheap ass costumes. I guess for you the
sluttier the better.

Madeline: I thought you learned your lesson from
last time to shut the fuck up. Perhaps the steel rod in your head
needs to be place deeper into your skull.

475: where you are time and place means nothing
and where you will be going it wont matter either.

Stranger 2: What do you mean time means nothing? I
died on my birthday as far as I'm concern its Valentines
day.

Madeline: sorry to disappoint you but its the
fourth of July weekend.

Stranger 1: I thought it was the day before
Thanksgiving?

475: As I said before time and place means
nothing. You all have died at different dates during the
year?

As soon as the word died spilled out of his
skinless mouth the crowd went into a uproar but not surprising
not tried to look for an exit or any other means of a way out.
The first wave of denial begins.

Stranger 2: there is no way in hell I'm dead, I
was having dinner with my girlfriend and fell asleep on the
coach.

475: You would not be here if you weren't dead.
Take a look at the man next to you. That is not a fake bullet
hole in his head, and those stab wounds on you are very much
real.

475 remembers reading this man's file, the one
thing he hates more than a coward is a coward that devalues a
woman. Stranger two is Kyle Richardson. A son of a Texan Oil
billionaire. His dad never owned a oil rig but rather made money
on the equipment and the knowledge of retrieving it. Kyle was a
spoiled brat and the youngest of five. He was the apple of his
fathers eye Kyle skated throw life doing nothing. Anything he
wanted daddy always gave him including women. His recent and last
girlfriend was among the many women he had at his beck and call.
When one wanted to leave the abusive relationship he made there
lives a living hell until they changed there minds. To Kyle all
women are trophies and should be grateful to be one of
his.

The night of his death he demanded his latest
trophy fix him a birthday dinner. While he brings a stripper home
to entertain him( and later her while he tapes, to watch and for
blackmail) his girlfriend spikes his food with rat poison. After
the dancer was fulling naked Kyle placed a collar on her and
walked her to the table.

They all ate in silence... well not all of them,
the dancer was placed under the table and was ordered to keep his
dick hard for later tonight, but tonight will never come. The
funny thing is that Kyle did not die from the rat poison, but
rather his mashed potatoes. Unlike his other trophies his new one
didn't know Kyle was allergic to garlic. Even though she didn't
put enough poison if his food to kill a cock roach he heavily
seasons everything else with garlic.

After eating Kyle felt hot and dizzy. Thinking it
was the wine taking effect took the stripper and his new girl to
the coach where he hid the camera. He sat down and gave the both
orders to suck his dick. Twenty minutes later Kyle goes limp in
more ways than one. The stripper leaves before the cops show up
leaving the other girl to spin a bizarre tale.

Kyle is rushed into a ambulance EMT s do there
best to keep Kyle alive. However fate has destined him to die
this day. Four blocks from a police station the ambulance is
slammed by a fire truck. Kyle soon to be lifeless body is flung
out while large pieces of glass penetrated his body, he dies in
seconds. Kyles farther had thought of sewing the girlfriend and
anyone else he could think of but thought against it. The
lifestyle he left Kyle live would put the whole family under the
spotlight. Since he has a few women of his own and is embezzling
from his own company thought it best to play the grieving
farther. 475 wanted to rub in his face where he will end up but
thought better of it. There is a time and a place for
everything.

Kyle looked around and saw what the reaper was
talking about. A man with his lower body blown off. A pregnant
woman missing her lower jaw. A man in a pinstripe suit with
multiple knives in his back. He went into a cold sweat and wishes
he can sink into nonexistence, all in due time.

No one was sure what to do, the glances in the
room cast fear and a wave of chaos ensue. Everyone simultaneously
decided to look for an exit. 475 knew this effort was futile but
he allowed them to try, a weakened and tired crowd was better to
deal with then one full of energy. After some time has passed the
last person finally gave up and flopped somewhere on the floor.
475 waited for the last hopeless soul before continuing his
seminar, he dared for someone to interrupt.

475: Lets start from the beginning, shall we? I am
reaper 475 and I am here to inform you all that: a) you have all
died for various reasons and b) for some reason the live you
chose in the living world has deemed you worthy for hell. No this
is not the place where you repent for your sins and go to heaven
nor is this purgatory. It doesn't matter if your christian,
Jewish or whatever you all end up in the same place based on the
lives you lead, which is why your here. Now if there are any
questions lets all be civilized and raise our hands. Yes,
you?

475 realized who the man with a steal rod sticking
out his head was. His life and death was so funny that he had to
share it. Stranger 1 Johnny Bucks but is real name was John Doe.
His life was filled with highs and lows. First his name caused
him trouble. For instance at the ripe age of 23 he was involved
in a hit and run. Johnny lead a car chase all over Montana until
he hit a moose going 90mph. He hits the moose, goes through the
windshield and over the carcass before landing head first on the
pavement. At first glance the police thinks hes dead. Johnny
thinks he home free and tries to play dead,but a sudden gust of
wind tosses dirt in his eyes causing him to blink. A keen eyed
officer sees it and aides him in the ambulance while also reading
him his rights.

Once at the hospital a doctor unwittingly put john
doe on his chart, a formality until he knows his real name. After
a few days the man is released to a corrections officer. One of
them asked for his name. He told the truth and said John Doe. The
CO flagged the doctor down and asked for his chart. John Doe was
written on there with no other name.

A psychiatrist was called from the mental ward to
have a chat with Johnny. It was his time to shine and lay on the
water works. He played the part of amnesia patient really well.
Watching cheesy soaps with ma paid off after all. He was allowed
to stay for observation. Just what his court appointed lawyer
needed for his defense. Johnny's lawyer stated that a man
incapable of remembering his last name was incompetent to stand
trial. The judge agreed and he was released.

However after doing some digging the prosecutors
found out that John Doe his his real name just as real as his
mom's name, Jane Doe. Instead for appealing the case they waited
a few weeks. The day after his victim died they charged Johnny
for murder. The amnesia stunt did not work a second time and he
was suppose to spend the rest of his life in prison, key words
suppose to. About 10yrs in a group of inmates had come up with a
plan to bust out of jail. The plan was fool proof with one
problem, they where missing a fool, they don't have to look far
for one. The group convinces Johnny to distract the guards they
didn't care how he did it they just wanted it done, big mistake.
The day of the break out and the gang thought they where home
free but just at the sweet smell of freedom crosses there noses
did they realized that they've been had. Tear gas and smoke bombs
surrounded the men. Guards closed in on the men cuffed them the
started there long walk to solitary confinement.

An hour later Johnny uses there escape route to
gain an early release. He then calls some old friends to falsify
some document and made a new life in Canada as Johnny Bucks. You
may cheat fate but you cannot dodge death. After enjoying freedom
for seven years, a chance happening puts the final nail in his
coffin. While loading construction steal rods onto a sling a
young woman with looks that could( and eventually would) kill
crosses Johnny's path. Instead of holding the guide rope he
smoothed talked his way into getting her digits. Yelling from
above alerted the girl in time to move away far enough to spare
her life but not Johnny's. A rod enter the middle of his head and
came out through his mouth. He didn't have family in Canada so
his body was never claimed. His remains are buried in an unmarked
grave with a marker that simply says John Doe.

Johnny lowered is raised hand and for a moment had
nothing to say. An awkward silence washed over the room. He
coughed a started to ask a question.

John: S..So your saying we are all dead?

475: Yes. Yes you are.

John: Now from what I heard we all died at
different times. I ain't saying in the Juiciest apple on the
tree, that being said how did we all get here at the same
time?

475: this is a question rarely asked and many
still never comprehend the answer. But I will try to water it
down for all of you. When you died and say the like that was you
going to purgatory. Since you arrive where time stands still you
all appear to be here all at the same time to you but to me days
if not weeks apart, but the truth is you might at be further than
that.

Stranger 3: Wait, wait, wait a god dang
minute.

475: god has nothing to do with why you are here
and I can wait for an eternity, seeing that I have been here for
seems like forever.

Stranger 3: some of us are not the same religion
or even affiliated with one. Who gets to decide our fate?

475: I do.

Hearing that sent a roar of outbursts. If 475 had
skin he would have a smug look on his face. The truth is that
religion was a ploy to get different people to live peacefully.
The idea had some unexpected results as other religions and
subcultures popped up. I guess it was some way to make a reapers
job easier when in fact in the long term it just made it much
more difficult. So a criteria was set for all( key word all ) are
judged by. Each reaper has there own scoring method but the
method that is used are the same for all. Before a reaper goes to
a seminar there results are giving to a panel of unbiased reapers
and is either approved or rejected. 475 has only had one reject
in all his time as a reaper and has never had one since

475: If you all are done chattering we can
continue.

Stranger 4: I am pregnant what happens to my
baby?

475: the reason why you are here my dear is what
happen to your baby.

Everyone stopped there idle chatter and looked at
stranger 4. Not because of what she did but the amazement that
she could speak without her lower jaw.

Stranger number four was Issa Landry. A honor roll
student by day and a rebellious goth kid at night. Her need to
please other people starts a conflict in her mind. At the age 15
her mother pediatrician thought is was best to put her on
medication.

Instead of using them Issa sold them to her
friends. She then use the proceeds to buy other drugs. If she
didn't have to cash she would used her body to make the
difference. In one such occasion she met a young thug she knew as
D-Train. Contrary to his name he was a suburban slacker who mooch
off anyone around him. D-Train has been eying Issa for a while
and has fantasize about taking her. One day she just was a couple
hundred dollars short, just what he needed.

About three months later D-Train is dodging her
calls and begins on moving with his dad in another. Issa mother
is at a lost for words it never ac-cured to her that Issa was
having sex. Her parents put Issa on lock down. They drive her to
school, pick her up and make sure she never leaves the house.
This drove her mad, for once Issa looked at the bottle of
medication.

After a few hours of feeling tired she went to her
fathers "prize room". Her farther works with explosive and often
makes his own fireworks. His latest prized possession is called
the F4. It was a small device that packed a punch that had a
remote detonator than a fuse. Issa grabbed it and went to her
room. After taking a few moments to gather her thoughts she
finally wrote her suicide note.

To all whom wishes to read:

I am trapped between two worlds. A place where I
want to be and a place where a place where I should be. Neither
place feels suited to me. It is no one fault but my own and none
should be sad for me. There has to be a better place, a place
where I don't feel trapped and confined in such a claustrophobic
prison such at my life.

I give all my clothes to my sister and my shoes to
my mother. My computer will go to my males bff Blake. Dad the
room itself its yours to use as you wish. For everything else I
don't know, charity? Well whatever isn't drenched in my blood the
poor people can use.

And with that final written thought Issa press the
charge button. The energy of the bomb sprayed the room with brain
matter while turning her lower jaw into shards which also killed
her child. Suicide in the reaper lingo is know as a neutral
offense providing no one else is injured or worse in the process.
If she had chosen another way to die Issa story would be
different. Instead she chose a process with deems her a murderer,
an unforgivable offense. As for her unborn child, she did not get
a chance to live so her soul goes back to earth for
reincarnation. Perhaps she will get a chance to have a mother
that will love her.

475: your child is safe and will be given a second
chance in life considering your took if without permission. She
will be birth into a family where they truly love her. Other than
that there isn't much I can tell you.

Issa: so what will happen to me?

475: the same at everyone else here, your going to
hell.

Issa: No I mean what will happen to me when I get
there?

475: that is up to your tormentor. If he wishes to
keep you as a pet or slave that's up to him. But your situation
will be no better than the rest. Its just that they will have the
luxury of it ending sooner than you.

What color was left in her body left the instant
she realized that there was no way for her to charm her way out
of this. Even if she did it would mean that her torture would be
longer and more painful than the rest. Home now feels more
inviting and she wished for her old life back. It is a shame that
that day will never come. She could pray to whatever god she was
when she were alive to make her nonexistence be painfully quick,
in fact they can all prey for that

Stranger
5: When our suffering ends then what?

This is the part of the seminar that 45 dreads. It
is the realization that forever doesn't exist. Infinite is a word
that mortals use for a time that seems to never end. The truth is
that everything has an ending. Time and life is one and all good
things, and bad for that matter, must come to an end.

475:Nothing. You suffer until you fade away into
nothing. There is no bigger hell for a finite life than
nothingness. Your energy will be used to create chaos on earth to
create bad behavior which will continue the cycle.

Stranger 6: We will never be reborn? The only
think I can hope for is nothing?! How can you say such a thing?
Are you here to tell us there is no hope for salvation?

475: Yes. That exactly what I am here for. You
die, come here, suffer, then fade away. My job is to tell you
what awaits. I am not a reaper that sugar coats shit so it can go
down easier. Reality hurts, all of you are here because of your
own actions not because of me.

A burst of tears flooded the room, many tried
another feeble attempt to leave the room. Others just sat and
cried filling the numbness with sorrow and grief. Finally the
time 475 has been waiting for, the retrievers. The retrievers are
reapers who take souls to there destined area. 475 remembers his
brief moment as a retriever, the constant kicking and screaming
when on hell duty never got old , just annoying.

At the end the the room a door appears. One of the
lost souls try to open it. Just mil-seconds from opening the door
she notices the design of the handle. The door itself could be
described as a plan heavy black door that arches as if it belongs
to a castles or church. However the handle itself seem to be the
purest of white with cracks at random seeming to connect. Upon
closer inspection she recognizes it to be the top of skulls with
one having a whole directly in the center. This lost soul may
know who skull that is considering that the whole is there
because of her.

Vivian Marks was for all purpose a highly educated
black woman. Honor roll society since entering school. Everyone
had high hopes for her when entering college. Her dream of
working for a pharmaceutical plant seems just around the corner.
Vivian graduates with honors and has just about every company
lining up at her doorstep.

She ends up working for Cytron, a company that is
often has contract with the government for medical supplies.
After only been there for five she she had been promoted three
times. During her last promotion she meets a young woman named
Maria Convent. A very little known secret to the world was as
much as Vivian loved men, she loved women just as much.

For three years the two of them had been intimate
having tryst in her office, the parking lot and even in Vivian
boyfriend's house. It made no difference to her, when she wanted
you she took you where ever whenever. Maria though has had enough
of being the booty call. Enough time had been invested in the
relationship to nowhere. It was time for the ultimatum, either me
or nothing. For Vivian the price was too high so another
compromise must be made.

One night after
having dinner alone, Maria called an ex-girlfriend with an eerie
message:

Hey Katie its me. I know your mad at me still but
I wanted to tell you that I love you and always have. I never
stopped thinking about you and still can't. I know your married
now and I hove the woman your with makes you happy as you made
me. If anything should happen to me just know that my biggest
regret is letting you go.

I just e-mailed you some documents. If I am
missing or for some reason no one can contact me please give that
information to the police and to a lawyer. I am sorry to do this
to you but your the only one I can trust with this and the only
one that will believe me. And I do mean this from the bottom of
my heart, I love and no matter where I am I will be watching over
you.

About two weeks
later the a little boy fishing with his dad finds a bloated
woman's body floating stuck on some drift that has collected by
one of the beams on a bridge. At this time no one has reported
Maria missing, not until there was a funny smell coming from her
apartment. The Landlord finally after a few too many threats of
suing about living conditions or calling the health department
went to check on Maria. When opening her door a mixed of sour
milk and road kill rushed over him. Blood had painted every inch
of the apartment, but still there was no one in sight. He entered
the bedroom and found the cause of the smell. A young woman,
platinum blonde hair(which was the only place she was blonde)
breast the size balloons filled with water. She would be a mans
dream if it wasn't for the fact that her body were riddled with
bullets. Later that day the bloated woman was identified as Maria
Convent. Police were dumbfounded, who could have done this and
why? Katie heard what had happen on the news, she then calls the
cops then went to go see a lawyer.

The package Katie
had not just contents of the affair but also of the money
laundering scheme she was apart of. The other main character in
this scheme was non other than Vivian herself. Even though she
was named she was still just one of the little guys and the
police wanted the big fish. With her charm she convince the
police that the affair was still going on that the whole fuss was
over a bigger cut. She took the hit since she was promised a
promotion later that year.

The police went
after the C.E.O, V.P, and the executive supervisor the Murder of
Maria and money laundering. The later charge was easy with the
assistant of Katie, however the Murder charge didn't stick and
all three where declared not guilty. A few years later Vivian was
charge but her lawyers place reasonable doubt in the juries mind
and was also declared not guilty. The truth was Vivian did do but
not with some help.

Vivian went to
talk to Maria with the guise that she was going to leave her
boyfriend and wanted to plan a life with her. More than excited
about the fact Maria forgot about the blonde in her bed. When
Vivian arrived she was not alone. Just out of sight where hired
men, ousted from the mob for there reckless behavior. Maria lets
her in seconds later the goons rush in. giving her chance in to
respond bashed her with a club. The blonde hears the commotion
and runs in. shock and anger boils within Vivian as she sees the
other woman. Her plan changes from hurting her to just killing
them both. " Do what you want with the two of them just make sure
that you take care of them when your done." Vivian walks to the
blood drenched Maria, " It wasn't suppose to go down like this,
but you leave me no choice. You got greedy and didn't follow my
rules. Now you pay." Vivian leaves and hopes into her Lexus not
wanting to get blood on her Armani suit and not wanting to see
what those thugs where going to do with her.

The ex-soldiers
took there times raping the girls. Fulfilling there sick
fantasies. For Maria her death was slow. With blood gushing out
of her head with every thrust. Hours later she was no longer
breathing but just to be sure one of the cons puts a bullet
through her head. Then it was the blonde's turn. Hours after
Maria's death the blonde dies with thirty bullets in her body,
she dies in seconds.

Vivian never gets
caught, but her life was never the same. The moves out the
country and changes her name. She ran a pharmacy on the outskirts
of Paris, gets married and has three kids. They then go to
college in the states and become successful in there fields never
knowing what there mother has done. Eventually Vivian returns to
the states. On her death bed she tells her children why she left
the states and her real name. She never tells them everything but
just enough to gain sympathy from her children. She dies of
natural causes at the age of eighty-seven.

The door starts
to open and everyone runs. A response 475 has seen and yet
doesn't understand. There is nowhere for them to go, correction
there was one place for them to go. A flash of light passes
through the opening and freezes everyone in one spot. They all
turn in a zombie motion towards the door and in silence all go
towards the door. There is one that wasn't hit by the light and
has to be dragged by the retrieving reaper. The door closes and
just like that all is over. 475 walks through the hall to make
sure there are no hiding souls. Satisfied that there are none he
makes a door for himself and transport back home. With the long
day behind him he takes off his robe, imagines a steak dinner and
heads to bed. Calming his mind he falls asleep and dreams of a
simpler time.